Warrior (Midnight Edition) Playing Cards by RJ – A Review

The Ad Copy:

Warrior Playing Card (BLACK) features:
4 of Clubs duplicate
Custom court cards by Daniel Schneider
B9 SlimLine Linen Finish stock
Manufactured by Cartamundi

Designed in consultation with none other than Daniel Schneider (Black Roses Playing Cards), with some of the biggest names in the industry represented on the court cards.

While the back design might be minimalistic, the deck is packed with hidden revelations and built-in magic tricks.

These are the Warrior Playing Cards by RJ.
The cautionary tale of the moth.

There is wisdom to be gleaned from the tale of the moth. A foreboding story, a warning to us all to employ caution in all matters concerning one’s insatiable desires.

The moth is a symbol of resilience and determination, of the cruel ways of the world and the most obvious example of the devastation that awaits those who desire that which will eventually lead to their destruction.

The moth is relentless in its pursuance of its love: light. There is no length the moth will not go to in order to reach that which it desires. This is the part of the story which begs our admiration, one must wonder at the level of perseverance the moth exhibits. Identical to the inevitability of the way in which darkness envelopes light, so too is the moth’s unrelenting race to its own demise.

Herein lies the lesson we ought to learn, be cautious of the things we seek with blind determination. For in attaining our utmost desires, we may find our reality turn to dust, as quickly as a moth caught up in its beloved flame: and in the moment when we think we have it all, in the split second when the moth and light are one, darkness will be all that it will ever know.

Be cautious of the things that burn too bright, for there is often solace to be sought only in the shade.

My Thoughts:

Warrior Playing Cards were the object of a Kickstarter project during the 2020 year. They shipped out in mid-October to all the backers and to Murphy’s Magic for distribution. I don’t know the percentage of projects that exceed their promises.. but Warrior Playing Cards are one of the few.

First and foremost, I want my cards to feel right and handle right. All the bells and whistles mean nothing to me if the cards feel like a standard deck of Bicycle cards. I know.. some of you are thrilled to open a standard deck of Bikes, as that’s all you’ve used for years.. but some of us have developed a feel for slim linen cards, smoothly cut on the edges, and once you’ve done so, it’s hard to go back to what served us well for years. So.. that’s the very first thing I look for.. For the record, Warriors are B9 SlimLine Linen Finish Stock, printed by Cartamundi.

Warrior Playing Cards by RJ (Romy RJ Meermans) feel and handle right…

Second.. I appreciate an artistic, but simplistic, design on my cards. I don’t want the design to distract from whatever effort I’m putting forth.. but I do want the cards to look like I’ve made an effort to provide a deck that’s pleasing for my spectator. I’m not one of those who thinks my audience is suspicious of anything not Bicycle… The court cards are custom designed, but not too far outside the norm. Well, Laura London IS the Queen of Spades.. but other than that….

Warrior Playing Cards are either midnight black or white with a very urbane moth printed on the back. They describe it as ‘minimalistic’. I like it…

Third.. Aside from their sharp handling, each deck has been designed to give you several custom cards to provide you with a number of ways to reveal their card. The Jokers have a Four of Clubs on one and a Nine of Clubs on the other within their design. Several court cards have ‘hidden’ reveals as well. Eg.. check the sword of two of the Kings for reveals, plus.. the hand of the Queen. The Ace of Clubs has a fancy custom design as well. There is a 4 of Clubs duplicate in each deck and either a double backer in the whites.. or a specially printed gaff card in the blacks. I’m sure there are others..

At $15.00 a deck.. they are reasonably priced. I would venture to say these will become collectable.. but.. I can’t leave a deck in cellophane! I cannot find the total printing, but I do know they were almost 70% funded their first day. If you appreciate an attractive deck of cards with multiple bonus features.. I recommend Warrior Playing Cards for your collection AND for those special effects where a little style will go a long way.

$15.00 From Murphy’s Magic and their associates who carry their line of magic.

https://www.murphysmagic.com/product.aspx?id=67948

Review by Rick Carruth for the Magic Roadshow